Abraham Lake in Alberta's David Thompson Country is the largest reservoir in the province. Water is backed up behind the Bighorn Dam (built in 1972) on the North Saskatchewan River. There is a fascinating phenomenon that happens every winter when methane gas bubbles derived from below get trapped in the ice on the lake. This creates wonderful patterns and effects in the ice. The ice bubbles are thought to be derived from decomposing organic material…
Have you dreamed of traveling to Peru, a South American country famous for its diverse landscapes, and one-of-a-kind experiences? Peru packs a punch for a country that is just five times the size of the United Kingdom. It's a nature lover's dream destination with over 1,800 bird species, 500 mammal species and an astounding 3,700 butterfly species. It's home to ancient archeological sites, including world renown Machu Picchu, Choquequiaro and the Nazca Lines to name…
If you're a new visitor to Banff National Park, you may find the selection of Banff hikes overwhelming until you get your bearings. Rest assured that any of the hikes described should satisfy your cravings for sublime Canadian Rocky Mountain scenery. Not all have gorgeous turquoise lakes on route, but all are worthwhile and some more so that others depending on the season. It has taken me nine years to find the time to do…
Are you itching to go somewhere, anywhere for a change of scenery and a reboot? How about a winter road trip to southwest Alberta? If you live in the Calgary - Edmonton - Canmore corridor, you can knock off the drive in as little as 2.5 hours if you're coming from Calgary and in just six hours if you're driving from Edmonton. I'd suggest a loop drive - taking Highway 22, the beautiful Cowboy Highway…
The popular Baldy Pass trail is one of the closest trails to Calgary in the mountains, so it's popular from that standpoint alone. It's a short and easy hike, though it will be moderate for those who don't hike often. Most people will be able to knock off the 7.4 km return hike in two - three hours. With only 422 m of elevation gain, it's also a great choice for families. I have done…
The Jura Creek hike near Canmore is a family-friendly outing with an option to add a level of difficulty by doing a loop hike that includes a scramble of Doorjamb and Loder Peak. Another alternative once out of the canyon and past the false fault, is to walk up Jura Creek for many kilometres. Near the end of Jura Creek, you can climb Morrowmount (in the summer or fall), a peak named for Patrick Morrow,…
There are three ice walks in Alberta - and they all provide unforgettable experiences. Enjoy a high fun factor as you slip slide along frozen rivers, stopping to admire icy waterfalls or beautiful ice formations. On one of the ice walks in Alberta you can slither into a cave and stand behind a curtain of frozen water. On another, you can enjoy the view down into a multi-hued canyon while standing on a cantilevered catwalk…
The Columbia Icefields Parkway stretches for 232 km between Lake Louise and Jasper, Alberta. It's one of the prettiest drives in Canada - and indeed the world. While you can knock it off comfortably in three to four hours, that doesn't allow for any stops. At a minimum, take the day to drive the parkway - but if you've got a week, then you'll have time to get out and explore some of the gorgeous…
The Rawson Lake hike in Alberta's Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is one of a few that you can do year-round, no matter what the weather throws at you. You can knock it off in half a day - whether you hike it in summer or snowshoe it in winter. It's family-friendly if your kids are regular hikers and are 8 years of age or older. If you want to do a full day of hiking,…
We all know that 2020 was an insanely awful year - a year we want to put behind us even if it's one we'll talk about for the rest of our lives. While I was certainly affected, I was also spared the worst of 2020. No one I was close to caught the virus (though my mother was in a long term care home that saw a major outbreak.) I always had food on my…